What's in a name...

Hello from our home front. This mild, snow-dusted November morning seems an approriate moment to post ,and I am actually typing with two hands today.
We have had a little house guest for a couple of the days and nights of this week, a furry four-legged little gal named, interwestingly enough, Sheba. There is a name to conjure childhood memories from Timmins for Cam, Deri ,Allison and I, and for Dad as well I am sure.
Kidd Creek Rd., (before it was paved and straightened) a new fall of snow and our Sheba runing full out in the cleared shoulder, doing 25,30 kph while dad drove the Ford Falcon van .
Picking up the poop in the backyard.
Near a dozen little puppies, stillborns and all, and an early harsh lesson of life, death and animal husbandry.
Deri holding the wriggling puppy behind her back, and assuring mom and dad that "I'll do everything, I'll take care of her,I will, honest." hhmmm.
Gramma,"that damn dog", and the covert caress with her foot under the table when she thought no-one could see.
Hooking up Sheba to the small tobaggan and expecting her to pull at least ONE of us... "c'mon...c'mon... c'mon Sheba".
Tried getting her to help haul the bricks too, but that didn't go very well.
Blood on the floor of the kitchen doorway, so much blood, from a deep cut in her forepaw- got out for a getaway at night and almost died from a pice of lightbulb in a garbage can.
That last trip to "Old Joe's" the trapper who lived alone in a 3 room log walled cabin on the Kamascotia Rd. He was a liftie at the ski hill weekends, which triggers a chain of reflections...
including listening to chunks of granite falling and crashing thru the trees all around us when we snuck inside the safety zone during a blast at the ski club to alter a face - Mr Weems ,Jim's dad set that one I believe.
Never told mom about that, did we gang...
So what's in a name.
Meaghan took on a house/pet sitting gig, which resulted in Sheba and Meaghan shuttling between residences. Plus ca Change... guess who was awakened at 8:30 to walk the little poochie... nope, not Meaghan...noope, noot Kathy, (although she was up and had coffee made-thks Kath). No my dears, Sheba knows who gives the GOOD walks, and so I indulged my daughter (and to be honest, myself) and went for a mornin stroll with our little guest- I have made a new friend... hmmm. She even trusted me enough to let me wash the snow and salt from her little paws and legs, standing patiently ,no trembling or fussing.
This Sunday morn is a mild one, we have about 6 cm of snow on the ground(where it has "drifted") but even that little bit of cover was enough to trigger an avalanche of association.
Sheba is a schnauser(sp?) ,low to the ground with a braod back and a square Jaw. a real little cutie, and extremely well behaved. Looks real cute snowplowing her face thru the fresh untrodden snow, snuffling and "Ruff"in' along... very sociable. I am aware , on the intellectual level, of the powerful influence that smell-sense exerts ,the associated memories coming in a timely flood of reflection at the end of this season of change.
All of that from a name.
And warm doggie smell...
I am a month past my surgery, was given permission yesterday by my therapist to go "slingless-with a caution" -I have the goal of full range of motion before me. I have it now ...passively,ie,the therapist can manipulate the arm thru full range of motion without pain response. Next step, achieve the same ROM assisted by my right arm, pulleys and poles.
Plus strength building. Tai Chi ,isometrics and porridge every mornin' will get it done.
Lyndsay has been travelling by Go train every morn this past week into Toronto to the College of OT's for her placement, and is up and gone to a warehouse sale with an old high schol galfriend so, she MUST be feeling better. (smile)
Kath and I quietly celebrated 28 years of marriage last weekend.Her work is as stressful as usual and the recent events medically at home have been tiring for her. I got her a hot oil stone massage as her gift this year. She said it was great! I love her lots and lots you know.
Meaghan is home from Whistler- the land of phonies and burnouts... and is persuing a return to school for January.
We have had no feedback from the md's re Lyndsay's pathology, and are holding to the 99%
of the surgeon (with some reservation) 'till we hear back. No news is good news...
Love to all, including "guests"at this blog, Life is sweet,life is sweat, give what you can and take what you get...no thirty